Only a few weeks after CORE Madison Avenue opened its doors, agents at the new location have wasted no time learning even more about their surroundings on the Upper East Side.  In order to expand on their first-hand knowledge of residential buildings in the area, several agents joined the new “Walking Tour” initiative spearheaded by Madison Avenue’s Director of Sales, Reba Miller.  In preparation for the tour, agents were designated to a specific building and asked to become an expert on the property with the purpose of presenting their findings to the group. (more…)

With warm weather and the distractions of summer in New York City in full swing, you have to get creative when it comes to marketing. And creative was just what the CORE events team was all week, coordinating a pair of events that showed off exclusive CORE properties in unique ways. First up on Wednesday, just ahead of National Bourbon Day — a real day, we swear! — was a whiskey tasting hosted by CORE’s Jarrod Guy Randolph in the amazing $4.995 million penthouse of the new Isis building on the Upper East Side. An evening of high-quality cocktails in a beautiful brand-new penthouse with four terraces? If that’s not enough to snap you out of a summer haze, what is?

(more…)

“Supersized” apartments are a hot sector of the market, The Real Deal magazine reports in its latest issue, as real estate developers look for ways to appeal to wealthy buyers. The list of new supersized buildings includes CORE’s upcoming Walker Tower development, but with the launch of sales at Walker Tower still a few weeks out, we thought we’d highlight three other supersized pads currently on the market.

Where: 213 West 23rd Street, Skyhouse
Size: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Asking: $8,950,000
Listed by: Emily Beare and Christian Rogers

This Chelsea apartment isn’t called the “Skyhouse” for no reason. The mansion-in-the-sky, a triplex sitting atop a landmark building, has 5,000 square feet of indoor space along with an almost unheard of 6,000 square feet of private outdoor space. No neighbors, four exposures, and striking views of the Hudson River and Empire State Building — it’s a supersized home for a supersized lifestyle.

(more…)

Sure, an apartment with a wall of windows — a feature unique to relatively newer styles of construction — provides great views of the city. But these apartments also make you feel like a part of the streetscape, hovering amid the skyline. And you’re not going to find anyone complaining about a lack of light in one of these, our favorite apartments on the market with a penchant for keeping it glassy.

Where: 166 West 18th Street, PH
Size: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Asking: $10,400,000
Listed by: Stuart Sussman

This full-floor penthouse at Chelsea’s Yves building has 10′ floor-to-ceiling windows with open views of the city. Though it’s also something to look at on the inside, with spacious living quarters and one of the most amazing contemporary styles we’ve seen. And if you want to step outside the glass house, there’s that private terrace that’s perfect for getting some fresh air. (more…)

Manhattan can never be described as average, but these apartments can. According to the latest market reports, the average sale price of a Manhattan apartment is $1.45 million. What does average look like? Pretty great, if you ask us. Here’s a look at three CORE listings priced around that magic number.

Where: 650 Sixth Avenue #5-A
Size: 1 bedroom/1 home office/2 bathrooms
Asking: $1,575,000
Listed by: Kirk Rundhaug, Mark Lynch and Ryan Fitzpatrick

There’s not much else that can be called average about this expansive (over 1,200 square feet) space that straddles Chelsea and the Flatiron District. The Cammeyer, a pre-war jewel that was once the world’s biggest shoe store, is one of the best loft buildings downtown. The finishes and location are second to none, the layouts are impressive — here there’s a 35′ x 12′ Great Room — and the building’s white-glove service goes above and beyond any concept of “average.”

(more…)

The Columbus Circle Holiday Market

Is it too late to find a fantastic holiday gift for someone special? Or two? Or ten? Not in New York City, of course. We asked some of our top CORE agents to share their last-minute picks for great holiday shopping. Procrastinators can thank us, well, later.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market [link]
Neighborhood: Columbus Circle/Central Park South
Tips: This is my favorite market for holiday gift shopping since you will find a wide range of unique goods such as handmade clothing, jewelry, toys, ornaments, artwork and gourmet foods from boutique vendors and craft purveyors. You’ll be sure to find something for everyone on your list! It’s only open until Christmas Eve.–Lisa Graham

C. Wonder [link]
Neighborhood: SoHo
Tips: Co-founder of Tory Burch mixes with Chanel and Goyard. It’s a fun, chic store that’s super affordable…there’s something for everyone, including guy stuff. I purchased a tote bag that offers a monogram, palm tree cocktail plates for a Yankee swap party with a “beach style” theme, nylon attaché cases, and monogram wine corks and cheese boards.–Lawrence Treglia

Tiffany & Co. [link]
Neighborhood: Midtown
Tips: When racking one’s brain for the perfect gift, last minute or otherwise, Tiffany always shines. Even at its busiest, it radiates a calming energy. Their personal shoppers take the drag out of holiday shopping, as there are no lines or bargain hunters to contend with. And let’s face it, even the most jaded New Yorker must admit that the timeless mystique of Tiffany’s legendary blue box is intoxicating. (Holly Golightly knew this.)–Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon

Lord and Taylor [link]
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Tips: They have everything in every price range for women, men, and kids. It’s one-stop shopping, and there are no crowds!–Susan Rubell

The Shops at Columbus Circle [link]
Neighborhood: Columbus Circle/Central Park South
Tips: Particularly Sephora, Whole Foods, Williams-Sonoma and Godiva. I love the convenience of having a variety of options all in one place in my neighborhood. For example, I can run down to Whole Foods and have a basket of cheeses made with delicious meats and pick up a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Then I can easily run up to Williams-Sonoma and Godiva to help complete the gift baskets. And in the midst of shopping madness you can take in a coffee and a pastry at Bouchon.–Adrian Noriega

Chelsea Market [link]
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Tips: There are vintage vendors in a pop-up space. In addition, there are additional pop-up stores at 19th street and 10th avenue and 15th street and 10th avenue offering various items. I bought cool vintage belt buckles, a knife set and a vintage mink wrap.–Lawrence Treglia

The Upper Breast Side, Bank Street Bookstore, J. Crew, American Apparel and Paul Smith
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Tips: The Upper Breast Side for cute baby gifts like swaddle blankets, socks that look like Converse sneakers, ballet slippers and awesome headbands. The Bank Street Bookstore for the best kids’ and teen books and the most knowledgeable sales people. J. Crew and American Apparel for scarves, gloves, and hats. And Paul Smith has the best stocking-stuffers and men’s gifts.–Natalie Rakowski

West Elm [link]
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Tips: There is something for everyone’s home here. I often walk through the block-long store, entering on West 17th Street and exiting on West 18th Street (even after the gift-giving season, just to warm up).–Stuart Sussman

What’s New is a weekly look at one of CORE’s most striking new listings.

Where: 211 Madison Avenue #30-AB
Size: 4,500 square feet and several possible configurations
Asking: $7,400,000
Listed by: Reba Miller and Susan Rubell

Look beyond the Don Drapers and luxury boutiques lining Madison Avenue and you’ll find that the venerable boulevard also has some fantastic places to call home, especially just south of the hustle and bustle of Midtown. At the full-service, white-glove Morgan Court, this massive sky-high duplex offers the rare ability to customize your dream layout in an established condominium with the assistance of the building’s sponsor. Three bedrooms? Five bedrooms? Up to four additional oversized windows to add to the already incredible 360-degree views? It’s all possible, and more. If a little flexibility goes a long way, then this apartment has to be a shoo-in for gymnastics gold at the 2012 London games. What won’t change: The unit’s private elevator entrance and beautiful balcony, a glimpse of which is seen below.

(more…)